The LSU football program added a familiar face to its coaching staff when former Tiger Corey Raymond was hired to coach defensive backs, the school announced Tuesday.

Raymond, 42, is a native of New Iberia and was a defensive back at LSU from 1988-91. He also served under LSU Coach Les Miles as an intern in 2006 and an assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2007-08.

He replaces Ron Cooper, who left after three seasons to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary. Raqmond comes to LSU after one year as Nebraska secondary coach under former LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pellini.

"That was the biggest factor, that it was a chance to go home," Raymond told the Lincoln Journal Star. He said leaving Pellini was "one of the toughest things" he's had to do "because he was so instrumental in my career."

Raymond is the second assistant coach hired by LSU this off season and the both haveLouisiana roots. Former McNeese State player and coach Adam Henry was hired earlier as the wide receivers coach to replace the departed Billy Gonzales.

"We are happy to bring Corey back to his alma mater, a place where he was a great college player," LSU Coach Les Miles said. "I feel like Corey is exactly what our secondary needed. He has proven expertise in teaching defensive backs and he will also do a great job mentoring our players. I think he's a perfect fit for our program."

Raymond played cornerback for six years in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants in 1992 and played there three seasons. He also spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions, 1995-97.

His coaching career began as defensive coordinator at his alma mater New Iberia High School in 2003 and he moved across town to Westgate for the next two seasons. He came to LSU as an intern under Coach Les Miles in 2006 and served the next two years as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Tigers.

Raymond got his first college assistant coaching job at Utah State as secondary coach in 2009-10. In December of 2010 he accepted the same job at Indiana but a month later was hired away by Pellini and spent the past season at Nebraska.

As an LSU player, Raymond was a three-year starter who totalled 185 tackles and eight interceptions.